Far East & The Philippines Collector

City-states are rare in the present day—and none are quite like Singapore. In the 20th century, the Southeast Asian nation hurtled itself into the modern world, and it continues to expand its state-of-the-art transportation system and build its edgy skyline. Yet Singapore’s urban plan wisely maintained its intimate neighborhoods, many with streets lined with colorful shophouses (a type of building unique to parts of Asia, with businesses located on their ground floors and residences above). Add the city’s mix of ethnic groups—mainly Malays, Chinese and Indians—and you get a vibrant cultural scene that attracts a cosmopolitan, international community. Singapore’s food scene—which is arguably the world’s most dynamic and runs the gamut from beloved street hawkers to Michelin-starred venues—would merit a trip alone, as would its never-ending shopping options. But the city is also packed with world-class museums, many designed by celebrated architects, and it hosts many major international events, such as the Formula One Grand Prix. Yet only about half of the 720-square-kilometer (278-square-mile) island is developed, which leaves plenty of room for parks and open spaces such as the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, where an old-growth forest still thrives.

Koh Samui can feel like a screensaver landscape. As if designed by Mother Nature for posters, calendars and daydreams, it’s Thailand’s most famous island for a number of reasons. The beach-fringed coast is edged with vivid, blue water that’s a surf-and-sand playground for snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, building sandcastles and simply lounging. Along with busy food stalls and restaurants where you can find a whole world of cuisine made with local produce and fresh seafood as well as authentic Thai dishes, the lively streets are lined with bars, boutiques, markets and spas.

By contrast, the island’s interior can provide moments of reflection and replenishing solitude. Enter the dense, hilly jungles for hikes to ancient temples and pristine waterfalls and quaint villages where you can experience true Thai hospitality.

With dreamy landscapes and island adventures from boat excursions to nature treks, you’ll soon be enchanted by Koh Samui.

Autrefois un petit centre de commerce Khmer, Bangkok est devenue l’une des villes les plus peuplées et les plus cosmopolites du monde. Rues animées et marchés se tiennent côte à côte avec les temples d’or sereins et les boîtes de nuit fastueux. Explorez le joyau architectural du Grand Palais. Découvrez le plus grand Bouddha de Bangkok à Wat Pho et faîtes du shopping dans le spectaculaire marché flottant de Damnoen Saduak. Exemple d’excursions: Une journée dans la campagne thaïlandaise, Shopping à Bangkok; Tiger Zoo.

Autrefois un petit centre de commerce Khmer, Bangkok est devenue l’une des villes les plus peuplées et les plus cosmopolites du monde. Rues animées et marchés se tiennent côte à côte avec les temples d’or sereins et les boîtes de nuit fastueux. Explorez le joyau architectural du Grand Palais. Découvrez le plus grand Bouddha de Bangkok à Wat Pho et faîtes du shopping dans le spectaculaire marché flottant de Damnoen Saduak. Exemple d’excursions: Une journée dans la campagne thaïlandaise, Shopping à Bangkok; Tiger Zoo.

Connue pour ses plages de sable blanc, les eaux chaudes du Golfe de la Thaïlande, et son ambiance détendue, Sihanoukville est la première destination pour les amoureux plages. Construite dans les années 1950, la ville est beaucoup plus récente et plus cosmopolite que la plupart des villes de province cambodgienne. Passez la journée à explorer les kilomètres de plages vierges ou choisissez-en une et nagez, faîtes de la plongée à tuba ou détendez-vous simplement sous un parasol. Exemple d’excursion: Sihanoukville et ses environs; Piscine à l’hôtel Sokha Beach.

Que vous soyez sur un grand boulevard, admirant l’architecturale coloniale d’influence française, ou dans un marché très animé à marchander avec un vendeur de rue, vous ne pourrez pas échapper à la culture et à l’histoire de cette ville animée. Ho Chi Minh-Ville est le foyer de nombreuses pagodes colorées, de cathédrales et des palais-y compris l’un des plus anciens de la ville, la pagode Giac Lam, datant de 1744. Exemple d’excursion: le Cambodge et l’aventure terrestre à Angkor ou les meilleures places de Ho Chi Minh-Ville.

Plages de sable blanc, eaux turquoises, cafés en bord de mer. Les journées à Nha Trang comme un trésor sous-estimé est révolue. Encore largement intacte depuis le 7ème siècle sont les vénérées tours du complexe du temple Cham Ponagar. Exemple d’excursion: visite de la ville de Nha Trang, campagne de Nha Trang.

Situé sur la mer de Chine du Sud, Da Nang est une ville portuaire et votre passerelle vers les merveilles naturelles et anciennes du Vietnam. Observez les cinq sommets des montagnes de marbre – considéré pendant longtemps comme une source d’inspiration pour les artisans vietnamiens; visitez le palais et les pavillons de Hué, la ville impériale des empereurs Nguyen, et explorez la charmante ville marchande de An Hoi et à proximité de la mer de Chine. Exemple d’excursions: Artisans de De Nang, Traditions rurales; Hue impériale.

Dans la baie du Dragon Descendant, les reliefs mystérieux offrent un panorama toujours changeant selon la lumière et l’angle. Maintenant, un site classé au patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO, la beauté unique de la baie d’Halong est heureusement préservée pour les générations à venir.

Est ce que n’importe quelle ville dans le monde peut dépasser l’énergie phénoménale de Hong Kong? Jugez-en par vous-même en prenant le tram jusqu’au sommet de Victoria Peak, rejoignez la surtension dans de nombreux marchés et regardez le monde laborieux des jonques de pêche d’Aberdeen. Exemple d’excursions: Matin Tai Chi et démonstration culinaire; visite de l’île de Hong Kong; exploration de l’île et du monastère de Lantau.

Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan in the Philippines, is home to 250,000 people and offers a vastly different experience from Manila’s often overwhelming big-city dynamism. For many travelers, it’s simply a gateway to the resorts of El Nido, also on Palawan Island. Those who spend some time here, however, will discover a city that combines a laid-back vibe with beautiful sandy beaches and a wealth of marine life. Nearby, there are also lush mountains, rain forests, waterfalls and dramatic limestone cliffs. Among the most popular sights are the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, where visitors are welcome to celebrate Mass accompanied by choral singing; the Palawan Heritage Center, which displays local artworks and crafts; and the peaceful Palawan Butterfly Ecological Garden and Tribal Village. The city’s biggest draws, however, are a boat trip through the limestone caves of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, and the beaches and islands scattered around scenic Honda Bay—perfect for snorkeling, sunbathing and picnics. Speaking of food, a visit to the most famous restaurant in the city, Kalui, is guaranteed to be a memorable experience for seafood fans; adventurous foodies can order crocodile sisig, a traditional—and delicious—stir-fry dish.

Little more than a dot off the northwestern tip of Panay, Boracay is the Philippines’ trophy beach. It offers an intoxicating mix of sun, sand and fun with hotels, restaurants and shops dotted along the beach. If you wish, you can visit popular White Beach or drive to Bulabog Beach as it is wilder and windier and a favorite windsurfing spot. Yet another option: relax on the serene and quiet beach of Puka in the north.

Appelée l’île d’Or au cours de la seconde moitié de la dynastie des Ming, la zone qui est maintenant Manille a connu la domination Burnéen, espagnole, britannique, américaine et japonaise. Cette histoire longue et variée se reflète dans l’architecture de Manille et ses quartiers. Explorez Binondo, le chinatown de Manille datant de 1594, Intramuros, seule ville fortifiée asiatique de style européen, et le quartier chic de Malate. Exemple d’excursion: Manille moderne.

Kaohsiung is a massive port city in southern Taiwan. It’s home to many skyscrapers, such as the 248m-tall Tuntex Sky Tower, and is known for its diversity of parks. Its focal point is the Love River, with walking paths and cafes along its banks, and cruise boats navigating its waters. Shopping options range from high-end malls to the Liuhe and Ruifeng night

Keelung City’s sheltered harbor and its location on Taiwan’s north coast have meant that, over the centuries, it has been ruled by the Spanish, Dutch and Chinese. While there are plenty of good coffee shops, markets and museums in the compact downtown and you can enjoy delicious seafood dishes at the Night Market, the city is today principally a gateway to Taipei for many travelers. Taiwan’s capital is just a half hour away by car or around 45 minutes by train. Long a small outpost of the Chinese empire, the city began to grow in the 19th century, when settlement from the mainland was encouraged. Then, from 1895 to 1945, the city (and all of Taiwan) was occupied by the Japanese. At the end of World War II, Taipei was handed over to the Republic of China, led by Chiang Kai-shek. In the decades since, it has seen an explosion of growth, but traditional temples and world-class museums still sit amid the skyscrapers. The modern metropolis also has top restaurants, food markets and upscale shopping. The Taipei Metro makes it easy to explore the city, or you can take an excursion to the countryside: A national park and a protected forest make for excellent day trips from both Taipei and Keelung.

Talk with the Japanese a while about the Japanese and you’re going to hear the word shimagunikonjo. The breakdown is simple: shima—island; guni—nation; konjo—consciousness. In one word, it’s the firm belief that people who live on islands are different from people who live on continents, and anyone who’s done both is likely to agree. American culture may be the strongest influence in Japan now, but the Japanese will understand the motivations of the Brits a whole lot better. Islands require a different mind-set than continents. Islands require manners. But what if your island was never meant to be part of another bunch of islands? That’s what’s happened with today’s Okinawa Prefecture. The people who’ve always been there are Okinawan, one of the healthiest, longest-living people on earth. But now they’re part of Japan and seriously outnumbered by the Japanese. (And they’re not at all happy that the Japanese interlopers gave so much of their land over to U.S. military bases.) Signs of Okinawan culture can be subtle but are easier to pick out in more remote islands of the chain, like Ishigaki. Traditional buildings are a mixture of Chinese and Japanese influences. In the markets, you’ll find fu chanpuru (an Okinawan stir fry dish) and whole-wheat soba, which the Japanese won’t touch. The ryuso robe holds on despite crowded kimono stores. The few people left who speak Uchinaguchi are praying for a movement like the Hawaiian renaissance to bring the culture back. The tipping point is close. A trip to Ishigaki now is to witness either the beginning or the end.

Naha, la capitale de la préfecture d’Okinawa au Japon et sa plus grande ville, est également le principal centre politique, économique et de transport de la région. Forte d’un passé fascinant en tant que capitale du royaume Ryukyu et d’un port en activité qui remonte au 15ème siècle, cette ville de 300 000 habitants réussit à être à la fois une ville fascinante et une ville décontractée. Parce qu’elle a été en grande partie détruite pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, il n’y a pas beaucoup de bâtiments anciens ici. Toutefois, quelques vestiges restaurés de l’époque du Royaume Ryukyu présentent un intérêt historique, notamment le château de Shuri, la résidence royale, et ses jardins extraordinaires, tous deux inclus dans un groupe local désigné ensemble comme site du patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO. Les autres sites légendaires comprennent le mausolée royal (tombes funéraires situées dans des grottes) et la porte Shurei, si magnifique que son image figure sur le billet de 2 000 yens. Il y a également quelques lieux incontournables de la vie contemporaine, notamment la rue Kokusai, qui offre près de deux kilomètres de boutiques, de cafés et de restaurants. Le marché public Makishi, situé non loin, compte des dizaines de vendeurs de nourriture qui proposent de délicieuses friandises. Si vous souhaitez aller plus loin, Naha est le point de départ idéal pour des excursions dans le reste d’Okinawa.

Think of Osaka, Japan (accent on the O), as a combination of Los Angeles and Chicago. It very definitely has L.A.’s second-city complex, but its attitude is pure Chicago. The only business that matters is business, and so what if the Hanshin Tigers, the local baseball team, are frequently the worst professional athletes in the world? They’re the home team. People in Osaka laugh louder, play harder and drink more than Tokyo’s most decadent dreams. Osaka even has its own dialect, one the rest of the country calls “dirty Japanese,” one entirely different than even Kobe’s—and Kobe is an Osaka suburb. Nothing is old in Osaka. The place was flattened during the war (and then again in 1962 and 1989, by Godzilla). During the reconstruction, they forgot to include much in the way of parks or green space, and the sheer amount of concrete and steel sights can get overwhelming. But Osaka has its attractions and interesting things to do. Sumo wrestlers wait for trains, reeking of chanko-nabe (traditional sumo food; pure energy and calories), just daring the official railway pushers to push them. Yakuza (Japanese gangsters) get train cars to themselves, but if you get on with them, it’s like you’re invisible. Busy markets, the visual noise of neon and nonstop action on shopping streets offer insight into the energy and ambition of Osaka. And if all that isn’t enough, Osaka is less than an hour from some of the most beautiful temples, shrines and ancient Japanese tourist attractions in the world—a thousand years of Japanese history—waiting in the old capitals of Kyoto and Nara.

Until the mid-19th century, Japan lived in isolation, closed off from the rest of the world, and Yokohama was a mere fishing village. But in 1853, American naval officer Matthew Perry demanded the country open to foreign trade, and Yokohama was changed forever. The city quickly emerged as an international trading center, and while today it is often overshadowed by nearby Tokyo, it continues to be one of Japan’s liveliest, and most international, destinations. With its microbreweries and international restaurants, Yokohama has a decidedly different feel from many other Japanese cities. From Yokohama, it’s a quick trip to peaceful Kamakura, home to Daibutsu, Japan’s second-largest bronze Buddha, and to the important Shinto shrine Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Head to Hakone National Park on a clear day and you’ll be rewarded with picture-postcard views of majestic Mt. Fuji. Tokyo is the largest city on earth and packed with some of the world’s best shops, museums and restaurants, big and small. While the bright neon lights and the bustle of contemporary Tokyo may be what comes to mind when you think of the city, there is another side. Tokyo’s historic gardens and neighborhoods of traditional homes on narrow lanes speak to a timeless Japan that has survived into the 21st century.